UNI vs. The College of Saint Scholastica

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, IA with The College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Northern Iowa is larger than The College of Saint Scholastica based on total student enrollment (9,278 students vs. 2,930 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of Northern Iowa is located in Cedar Falls, IA (Small City setting); The College of Saint Scholastica is in Duluth, MN (Small City setting).
• University of Northern Iowa is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of Saint Scholastica is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Northern Iowa 18:1; The College of Saint Scholastica 12:1.

UNI vs. The College of Saint Scholastica Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UNI or The College of Saint Scholastica? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Northern Iowa than The College of Saint Scholastica ($16,437 vs. $26,083).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Northern Iowa are 15.6% lower than at The College of Saint Scholastica ($9,986 vs. $11,830).
• The College of Saint Scholastica is 320.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UNI (about $31,842 more per year; $41,778.00 vs. $9,936.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.4% higher at The College of Saint Scholastica than at University of Northern Iowa (about $20,066 more per year; $41,778.00 vs. $21,712.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of Saint Scholastica than at University of Northern Iowa (93% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Saint Scholastica students is 386.9% larger than aid received by University of Northern Iowa students ($28,555 vs. $5,865).

UNI vs. The College of Saint Scholastica Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UNI or The College of Saint Scholastica? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between The College of Saint Scholastica and UNI.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of Saint Scholastica (1210) is 60 points higher than at UNI (1150).
• Incoming The College of Saint Scholastica students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at UNI).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 1020/1280; The College of Saint Scholastica 1110/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Northern Iowa 19/26; The College of Saint Scholastica 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UNI - Test optional; The College of Saint Scholastica - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman UNI students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.61) than students at The College of Saint Scholastica (3.5).
• The College of Saint Scholastica has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than UNI (92.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.1% at UNI vs. 16.9% at The College of Saint Scholastica.

UNI vs. The College of Saint Scholastica Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UNI and The College of Saint Scholastica? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• University of Northern Iowa's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than The College of Saint Scholastica's (63%).
• Graduates from The College of Saint Scholastica earn a median of about $7,100 more per year than UNI graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,800 vs. $47,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Northern Iowa graduates have a $529 lower median loan debt than The College of Saint Scholastica graduates ($20,625 vs. $21,154).
• Among borrowers, UNI graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The College of Saint Scholastica graduates ($213 vs. $218).
• More UNI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The College of Saint Scholastica students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.